World Cup: All Whites playoffs hopes raised, Egypt’s Premier League stars Mohammed Salah, Omar Marmoush stand in way
Monday, 22 June 2026
What: World Cup Group G, New Zealand All Whites v Egypt. Where: BC Place Stadium, Vancouver. When: 1pm Monday (NZT), TVNZ 1, TVNZ+ (free to air).
ANALYSIS: Even ex-internationals are now saying it will be a disappointment if the All Whites do not advance from their World Cup group, as they prepare to face Egypt’s Premier League superstars strike force.
Chris Wood’s team produced one of the All Whites’ greatest performances - certainly their best on the game’s biggest stage - in the 2-2 draw with Iran last Tuesday.
Now the Kiwis - ranked 85th in the world - desperately need points and ideally a win, against 29th-ranked Egypt in their second Group G game in Vancouver on Monday (1pm NZ time).
The African powerhouses may be seven places behind Iran in the latest Fifa rankings, but they are arguably more dangerous with ex-Liverpool legend Mohammed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush leading their line.
Salah (193 goals in 326 EPL games) and Marmoush (10 goals in 37 appearances) represent a formidable threat, but Wood and his teammates also must deal with heightened expectations.
Tim Brown, vice captain of the 2010 All Whites World Cup squad, made a telling point when he told the Between Two Beers podcast that “the bar’s higher for this team because they’re better” than their 1982 and 2010 predecessors. The performance against Iran had set their standards even higher.
Brown did not mean to apply any added pressure. He noted the expectation was “an extraordinary compliment to this group”.
The bar’s not quite yet set at world high jump champion Hamish Kerr’s height - nor should it be with games against Egypt and Belgium to come.
But Brown was bang on when he said: “I think they now have to get out of this group… if they don’t it will be a disappointment based on how good they were [against Iran].”
The All Whites earned credibility with New Zealand’s general sporting public with their have-a-crack approach against Iran.
But backing up a top performance with another can be a challenge. Witness how the 2010 squad went from the high of a 1-1 draw with world champions Italy to a tame scoreless stalemate with Paraguay, which ultimately cost them a playoffs place.
Eight of the third-placed teams at this World Cup will advance to the round of 32. Of the teams that have already played two matches, Scotland in Group C and Paraguay in Group D are best-placed on three points.
Three points from three draws may not be enough, just as it wasn’t for Ricki Herbert’s team 16 years ago.
So the All Whites have to again go for broke against Egypt, without leaving too many gaps for Salah and Marmoush to exploit.
Coach Darren Bazeley is unlikely to tinker too much with his team.
The match could hinge on whether New Zealand’s impressive holding midfielders Marko Stamenic and Joe Bell can dominate that space against Egyptian duo Marwan Attia and Mohanad Lasheen, who are the key to supplying Salah and Marmoush.
Bazeley may need to look hard at his fullbacks and ask whether Tim Payne on the right flank and Liberato Cacace on the left were tight enough on their wingers against Iran or would he be better to deploy centreback Tyler Bindon or specialist right back Callan Elliott for Payne and Ben Old for Cacace.
It would be a surprise, however, if he made two changes. Cacace still does not look his sharpest after injury issues at Wrexham, but at his best, he is a quality left back, particularly on the overlap or cutting inside.
Callum McCowatt should keep his spot on the right side of midfield where his energy and ability going forward would become even more valuable should Bazeley choose to replace Payne.
Belgium contained Salah and Marmoush effectively in their 1-1 draw with Egypt, but lightning cannot be bottled for long.
The Egyptians will know all about Wood and they will equally aware, after the Iran game, of the need to shut down two-goal hero Eli Just and Sarpreet Singh.
This shapes as the All Whites’ most demanding defensive assignment at a World Cup since Serginho, Eder, Zico and Socrates fronted for Brazil in 1982.
Facing the pace and skill of Salah and Marmoush is more daunting than tackling a traditional targetman type like Iran’s Mehdi Karemi or Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku.
Possible All Whites team: Max Crocombe; Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Finn Surman, Liberato Cacace; Joe Bell, Marko Stamenić; Callum McCowatt, Sarpreet Singh, Eli Just; Chris Wood.
TAB odds: Egypt $1.60, All Whites $5.60, draw $3.80.